LinkX Ethernet AOC
NVIDIA documents integrated optical cable families for short switch-to-switch and switch-to-GPU links, with lighter weight and longer reach than DAC.
AI CLUSTER · AOC VS DAC
AOC vs DAC for AI Cluster Short-Reach Interconnect
Do not choose by cable name alone. DAC and AOC are integrated assemblies with different reach, power, weight, routing and serviceability characteristics, and availability changes by platform generation.
DACPassive copper · shortest reach
AOCIntegrated optics · longer reach
RoutingWeight, bend, airflow and cable path
CompatibilityExact endpoints + protocol + port mode
Media Comparison
DAC minimizes electronics; AOC moves the signal into fiber
DAC · Direct Attach Copper
- Passive twinax copper path with no active optical conversion.
- Very low power and latency for supported short-reach links.
- Usually lowest-cost inside-rack or adjacent-endpoint option.
- Higher-speed copper becomes thicker, heavier and reach-limited.
- Exact cable PN must match both endpoint implementations.
AOC · Active Optical Cable
- Optical engines and fiber are integrated into one cable assembly.
- Lighter and more flexible than equivalent long copper paths.
- Supports longer short-reach links without field optical connectors.
- Consumes active power and is replaced as a complete assembly.
- Not every new high-speed platform offers a native AOC product path.
AI Cluster Decision
Five questions before selecting AOC or DAC
01 / ENDPOINTSWhat are the two exact ports?Switch, NIC / DPU, cage, port mode and protocol.
02 / LENGTHWhat is the installed cable path?Measure route length, not straight-line rack distance.
03 / ROUTINGCan the pathway handle the cable?Check bend radius, bundle density, airflow and pull path.
04 / POWERIs active cable power acceptable?Compare per-port power and thermal budget at scale.
05 / SERVICEHow will the link be replaced?Integrated assemblies simplify optics cleaning but require full-cable replacement.
Generation boundary: NVIDIA's current 100G-PAM4 interconnect family emphasizes DAC/LACC and pluggable optics; its older Ethernet AOC family covers up to 400G. Therefore “AOC vs DAC” must be validated against the exact speed generation and endpoints.
Current Vendor Evidence
Use the platform generation, not a generic cable rule
Current High-Speed Cable Family
NVIDIA's 100G-PAM4 overview documents DAC to 3 m and LACC to 5 m, while native interconnect options differ from older AOC generations.
Cable Management Guidelines
Use current installation guidance for length, routing, bend, connector handling and service boundaries.
Have an AOC or DAC requirement?
Send both endpoints, rate, protocol, cable-route length, quantity and required date. We will match the medium to the actual platform.